The Code Blue Center, located below Sacred Heart Church in Phoenixville, provides a cold weather, overnight center for men, women and families. According to Chester County regulations, Code Blue is when temperatures dip to 35 degrees or below (considering the wind chill factor). This is when the risk of hypothermia, frost bite, or other cold-related injuries could occur if outside for prolonged periods of time."

Ann's Heart believes that whether it is 35º or 38º it is too cold to sleep outside at night during the winter months. This is why the Code Blue Overnight Emergency Warming Center is open from mid-November to mid-April (depending on the weather for any given year) from 8 PM to 8 AM, seven days a week, with one paid staff member and up to two volunteers per shift each night. However, during a severe weather event the center may remain open throughout the day to ensure that guests have a safe and warm place to shelter from the storm.

Who We Serve

The Code Blue Overnight Emergency Warming Center serves men, women, and families from the Phoenixville and immediately surrounding areas. This generally means anyone from Phoenixville Borough and the immediately surrounding townships. The Center can accommodate up to 16 individuals each night and accepts guests on a first come, first serve basis.

General Information

Doors open at 8:00 PM and close at 10:00 PM. Guests may not enter the Center past 10:00 PM unless they have made previous arrangements to do so with management as an accommodation for work schedules. The Center closes promptly at 8:00 AM. All guests must take all personal belongings with them upon departure. Our Center is a smoking, vaping, alcohol, and drug-free site.

The Code Blue Center has both shower and laundry facilities for guest use and provides hot and cold beverages, simple meals, and access to toiletries and other immediate needs.

Resources

Are you or someone you know homeless or at risk?

Most shelters in Chester and Montgomery Country require you to call into their county homelessness hotline prior to acceptance.